The recent fire in San Juan Bautista brought the issue of fire department response time to the forefront along with San Juan Bautista’s antiquated water system. Citizens taking to social media and to local news reporters were voicing their concerns about relying on the Hollister Fire Department for support due to the perceived lag in response times. Since all San Juan Bautista firefighters are employed by the Hollister Fire Department the issue of relying on the Hollister Fire Department is moot.
There is a contractual agreement between the two municipalities in which San Juan pays a fee to Hollister for fire protection. Those fortunate enough to be staffed in San Juan are also done so through contractual agreements but I am not privy to the amount or to the details of their contract. Given the short distance between San Juan and Hollister, response times are presumed adequate. However, the nascent congestion on Highway 156 between Hollister and San Juan is making response times difficult to gauge if not impossible to predict accurately.
Additionally, as a San Juan resident I have observed the firefighters and the SJB fire truck in action and can attest to the firefighters’ professionalism and feel fortunate to have them in proximity. I do believe that firefighters truly embody the motto of “protect and serve” to their very core.
As the smoke cleared from the Franklin Circle fire, I began to think about emergency preparedness in general and in particular about safety in my own home. Once a year (since pre-school) my son has come home with a fancy plastic fire hat with big stories about fighting fires, importance of fire safety and the revelations of a fully equipped and operable fire truck. After the one or two-day excitement passes the topic stays dormant until a new fire hat magically appears in our home a year later.
Natural disasters, and in the case of Franklin Circle a freak accident (fire sparks from a catalytic converter), are random occurrences void of rhyme or reason. The question of having an emergency preparedness plan was driven home after this recent accident.
My husband and I discussed our plan and with our oldest son’s assistance it was slowly realized. Topics were discussed in depth and though not fire specific they included fire safety, natural disasters (specifically earthquakes), the zombie apocalypse, evacuation plans, emergency contact numbers (including immediate family), and our emergency supply kit that we prepared as a family. A majority of our selected topics came from the National Fire Protection Association website and we made it a fun and memorable experience breaking for snacks, donning life jackets, assorted hats and covering some first-aid exercises. We each took a turn creating an elaborate map of the house with the proposed escape routes, and then finalized a plan to include meeting points. We also used www.sparky.org for a little help from Sparky the Fire Dog; he [Sparky] provided safety activities and kid-friendly checklists that we printed for reference. We made much of it an interactive experience.
In doing this preparedness we slowly realized its importance even if you don’t have kids.
It was suggested to keep the perimeter of our home clear. Though trees and shrubs add privacy and serve as noise barriers they also become a fire hazards if not properly cared for and maintained. We learned the essential strategy of dead tree, shrub and grass removal to reduce the likelihood of a fire spreading. Additionally we ingrained in our minds the location of all of our water outlets and positioned hoses to be immediately available if needed.
Something else we became aware of was all those “fine treasures” collected over the course of time. The ones set aside for some future date when the planets align and they become of use—well suffice to say, hording was addressed. We cleared all blocked exits (as to not impede an expeditious departure if needed) and winnowed our treasures to the bare minimum; if it hadn’t been used in three months the article went into the donation bin.
We made certain that our supply kit was up to date, stocked extra gallons of potable water, plenty of candles, strike anywhere wooden matches, flashlights, extra batteries, and we are still discussing the possibility of a portable, gas-powered generator but budget considerations are the backdrop to that discussion and for now we have set it aside.
In previous columns I have alluded at times to the shaking tectonic plates, which converge here in little old San Juan. During our earthquake preparedness discussion, our son so aptly stated,
“Remember to stop, drop, cover and hold on”. He also reminded us to use a table or door frame for added safety precautions. And indeed his advice is so.
I understand that the nature of an accident is exactly that “an accident” without notice or warning. But as my family discussed the subject we concluded that in being somewhat prepared we can, at least, minimize the potential of any serious incident. And besides, when all the family is involved it does become a responsibility shared, which adds to an already strengthened bond.
